Akai Fleming Bolts Georgia Tech for Cincinnati, and Jerrod Calhoun Just Got His 11th Piece

Cincinnati's building something fast, and they just locked in their 11th transfer addition under first-year coach Jerrod Calhoun. Georgia Tech guard Akai Fleming is heading to the Bearcats, and he's bringing a skill set that fits the program's blueprint perfectly.

Fleming Brings Youth and Upside

The 6-foot-4, 184-pound freshman has three seasons of eligibility remaining. In his opening college season, Fleming averaged 10.4 points per game and 3.2 rebounds across 25.5 minutes per game. He's not a finished product, but the tools are there. His shooting numbers from the field sat at 39.4%, but here's the thing: he took roughly half his shots from beyond the arc and knocked down 32.9% of them. That's a guy who can develop.

The Free-Throw Shooter Factor

Where Fleming really stands out is at the free-throw line. He hit 81.8% of his free throws last season, which ranked 13th best in the ACC. That number matters more than you might think. Free-throw shooting is a predictor of offensive growth, and Calhoun's roster is loaded with guys who can hit them. Cincinnati could realistically run multiple lineups where every player shoots 75% or better from the stripe.

Defensively, Fleming brings a pesky, aggressive attitude. There's room to grow there, but he should develop well in Calhoun's system.

Building a Program the Right Way

Calhoun and general manager Corey Evans are working in tandem to construct this roster, and Calhoun didn't mince words about what they're building toward. At his opening press conference, he laid it out: "If we can get to the NCAA Tournament back-to-back years, doing it the way we are, with the resources we had, now, you add bigger resources, you get good evaluations, you implement the plan. We should not just want to get into the NCAA Tournament. We should be wanting to advance week by week and get back to a Final Four."

That's the standard. Fleming is piece number 11 in a puzzle that's taking shape fast under a coach who knows what it takes to win.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.